MANILA, Philippines – Art in the Park will return for its 19th year on Sunday, March 23, at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati City. From 10 am to 10 pm, the highly anticipated outdoor art fair will feature 61 exhibitors and three handpicked Filipino artists for this year’s special exhibits.
The special exhibitors are multimedia visual artist TRNZ (ti-ar-ɛn-zi), contemporary mixed-media artist AR Manalo, and designer and artist Carlo Tanseco.
Art in the Park co-founder Trickie Lopa shared that the fair, since its inception in 2006, has always aimed to provide a vital platform for emerging artists.
For both TRNZ and AR Manalo, having their first solo exhibit this year at Art in the Park is a full circle moment as it’s the very same art fair where they jumpstarted their artistic careers.
The 32-year-old TRNZ from Quezon City used to work in advertising agencies before deciding to become a full-time artist. He first started sending in his works to Art in the Park around 2018.
“That’s my first entry in the art scene here in the Philippines, [My exhibit this year] is a nice reminder for me of where I started basically,” he said.
TRNZ with some of his works in ‘A Study of Quiet Disguises.’ All photos courtesy of Art in the Park
TRNZ’s special exhibit is titled “A Study of Quiet Disguises.” Inspired by his everyday experiences of watching locally dubbed ‘90s Japanese anime TV shows, shopping around ukay-ukay (pre-owned clothing shops) along Cubao, and playing badminton among others, his curated acrylic paintings aim to reveal the beauty in the ordinary.
“I wanted to highlight the gem in the things disguised as the mundane,” he added.
Aside from paintings, TRNZ also does graphic illustrations and streetwear designs.
AR Manalo with his works in ‘Princess in a Park.’
AR Manalo, a 39-year-old artist from Parañaque City, similarly used to participate in Art in the Park when he was just starting.
“It’s a full circle moment to be one of the featured artists this year, because. I owe it to Art in the Park — starting my career with them way, way back… [This exhibit] is also my way of thanking Art in the Park with this show.”
His exhibit titled “Princess in the Park” takes inspiration from his three-year-old daughter whose favorite things are going outdoors and playing in parks.
With the use of contemporary materials and vintage book illustrations, his works serve as a reminder to rediscover our childlike wonder and find that lost joy and adventure.
“Basically this show is also a love story for my daughter. I can’t wait to tell her [about my work] when she grows up,” Manalo added.
Carlo Tanseco and his Rizal Matchbox series.
Carlo Tanseco sets to introduce his critically acclaimed Rizal Matchbox series. This marks the first time in two years that a piece from his collection has been exhibited.
All three special exhibits are open to the public for free.
Other participating galleries and booths include:
Ang INK, Archivo 1984, Art for Space, ART LAB: Atelier Cesare & Jean Marie Syjuco, Art Toys PH, Art Underground, Art Verité Gallery, Artbeat Collective, Artery Art Space, Avellana Art Gallery, Boston Art Gallery, Cartellino Art, Cornerstone Pottery (EJ Espiritu), Cultural Center of the Philippines, De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde.
FA Gallery and Fuse Projects also signed up along with Galeria de las Islas, Galerie Anna, Galerie Artes, Galerie Stephanie, Gallery Genesis, ILCP Art Space, J Studio, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, KASIBULAN, Komiket, Kulay Art Group, Looking for Juan, M A G, METRO Gallery, MONO8, Nest, Nineveh Artspace, and Orange Project, Pintô Art Museum and Arboretum, Qube Gallery, Resurrection Furniture, Savage Mind / Kamarin Art Space, and Sheerjoy Collective.
Rounding up the exhibitors are Sierra Madre Gallery, Space Encounters Gallery, Superduper Art Gallery, Talyer 15 Manila, The Authenticity Zero Collective, The Mighty Bhutens, The Photography Collective, The Print Outpost, The Thursday Group, Tin-Aw Art Projects, UP Artists’ Circle, UP College of Fine Arts, Urban Sketchers Manila, VeryGood Gallery, Village Art Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, White Walls Gallery, and Ysobel Art Gallery.
Featured artists AR Manalo and TRNZ with Art in the Park co-founders Trickie Lopa (left) and Lisa Periquet (right).
Proceeds from this year’s Art in the Park will be donated to the Museum Foundation of the Philippines that provides support for the National Museum and other museums in the country.
For more information, visit www.artinthepark.ph or follow www.facebook/artinthepark and @artintheparkph on Instagram. – Rappler.com
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